Page 20 of Stalker's Valentine

Merritt.

Merritt and his intense light eyes and body that was built to climb like a jungle gym. After talking to him, albeit just for a moment, I knew he was everything I could have ever imagined and so much more. Just a couple of minutes around him had ruined me for other men.

And it sucked.

I wasn’t his type. I was pretty sure there was no way in hell I could have caught his eye. Not with how dorky I’d been, and then to make it worse, I’d rushed out when Austin showed up.

I had no idea why I ran away like I’d been caught doing something wrong. Maybe it had been the stupid way Merritt was running through my head and how I couldn’t sleep without thinking about him while I used my battery-operated boyfriend? Not that he or Austin would have ever known that. But I’d gotten nervous, and if I was honest, I’d been disappointed Merritt hadn’t chased after me.

“Chase after me,” I scoffed, setting the teddy bear on the couch next to me, and stood. I stretched, trying to come up with what to make for dinner.

“No way a guy like that would ever––“ I started to say while I walked to my kitchen when the doorbell rang. I frowned and walked over.

It was only a little after five, and knowing one of my sisters, it was probably them trying to ambush surprise me to try and talk me into going to karaoke at the brewery. Olive and Raven had been obsessed, and since Coral didn’t want to be home, the three had been going all the time.

I opened the door without looking through the peephole, about to tell whichever one it was that it wasn’t going to happen, when the words died on my tongue. A slightly shocked squeak passed my lips.

“Hi,” Merritt’s deep voice sounded, and I felt a throbbing between my legs. My thighs pressed together, and his lips tipped up.Can he feel the way he affects me?Did I have the same effect on him?I wish.

“I asked Austin where you lived,” he quickly added. “I hope that was okay. I’m sorry our coffee date was interrupted.” Our coffee date. He’d called it a date. And there I was, looking like an idiot. Standing there, gawking at the hot older guy on my front door, opening and shutting my mouth like a dang goldfish.How does Austin know where I live?I wondered before Merritt smiled and my brain fritzed out.

“Scarlett?” he called, snapping me out of my thoughts. His light blue eyes felt warm, reminding me of the perfect spring morning.

“Hi,” I finally spoke up, my lips tilting upward. “I’m sorry. I’m just surprised to see you.” I shook my head trying to get my brain to send the right words to my tongue. Thankfully, luck was on my side.

“I should have called, but Austin didn’t have your number, and I didn’t know how you would feel about me asking your brother for it.”

“Oh.” I opened then shut my mouth. “Would you like to come in?” I invited. His eyes widened to almost surprised by my offer.

“Thank you, that would be nice.” I stepped aside, and when he walked inside, his arm brushed against mine. I shivered. I had no idea why I felt so drawn to him, so alive when I was around him, but I did. I felt like a new person.Or maybe more like myself than I’ve ever felt?

“I brought you these.” Somehow, with the shock of him standing at my door, I’d missed the fact his arms had been behind his back. When he moved, I saw it.A bouquet of flowers.

But it wasn’t just any bouquet! It was the one I had been tempted into picking up but had walked away from.

“They made me think of you,” he shared, leaving me slightly dumbfounded.

“They did?” I glanced away from the gorgeous arrangement and into the most gorgeous eyes I’d ever seen. Everything in me wanted to swoon. Older, he held himself like he knew who he was and exuded confidence. He was handsome and masculine with an aura of protectiveness. Like he would gladly stand and put his body between you and a freight train.

“They did.” He smiled softly as he handed them to me. Our fingers brushed and my breath hitched. A zap of electricity shot through me, and something about the way his eyes slightly narrowed as his breathing changed just a smidge let me believe he’d felt it, too.

“Thank you. They’re beautiful,” I whispered in awe with the way his light eyes held me captive.

“You’re welcome. I hope you don’t mind I stopped by unannounced.”

“Oh, umm… I kinda had to head back and finish the workday.” It wasn’t a complete lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either. I’d gotten nervous and ran away.

And he chased after you!a little voice squealed.

“Right.” He nodded. We stood for a moment until I forced myself to look anywhere but his eyes.

“Would you like to sit down?”

“I was actually wondering if you would like to have dinner with me,” he offered. I wasn’t sure what surprised me more—that the man I had been crushing on was at my house or the fact that he was thereandasking me out.

“Dinner?” I repeated, wondering if maybe I’d heard him wrong.

“Yeah, dinner. With me.”

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